Matt Symes - Podcast Details

Shows

LevershipWhy Your Best Investment Might Not Be a New Machine In this episode of the Levership Podcast, Chris Johnson and Matt Symes discuss the importance of building a sellable business, the various types of investments entrepreneurs can make, and the critical role of process improvement in maximizing returns. They emphasize the need for entrepreneurs to be intentional about their investments, particularly in processes and people, to create a sustainable business that serves their best life. The conversation also touches on preparing for business exit and the importance of normalizing financials to attract potential buyers. Takeaways: Every aspiring entrepreneur should have a sellable business. Investing in process improvement is often overlooked. Y...2025-02-0419 min

LevershipThe Busy Myth: Maximizing Leadership Time In this episode of the Levership podcast, Matt Symes and Chris Johnston discusses the importance of time management for leaders. They emphasize that being busy does not equate to being productive and that leaders must redefine their responsibilities to enable others rather than just doing the work themselves. The conversation covers the pitfalls of email management, the need for intentional time allocation, and the significance of understanding one's energy rhythms to optimize productivity. Ultimately, leaders are encouraged to reflect on their time usage and create space for deep work to achieve their goals effectively. Takeaways Busy is often glorified, but i...2025-01-1421 min

CanadianSME Small Business PodcastTransforming Small Business with Matt Symes & Chris JohnstonWelcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, where we explore strategies and insights to empower businesses to grow, adapt, and thrive in a competitive landscape. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an established business owner, today's episode promises to equip you with actionable knowledge and inspiration for strategic leadership.In today’s discussion, we’re joined by two visionary leaders in the field of business growth and organizational transformation:Matt Symes, CEO of Symplicity Designs and co-founder of Levership, known for his expertise in helping businesses scale efficiently and overcome operational challenges.Chris Johnston, CEO of Leve...2025-01-0923 min

LevershipWhat Is Good Strategy? In this conversation, Matt Symes and Chris Johnson explore the critical elements of effective strategy in business. They discuss the importance of understanding good versus bad strategy, the necessity of a strategic cadence, and how external market changes impact business decisions. The conversation emphasizes the need for small business owners to step back, analyze their operations, and create a thriving business that serves their lifestyle rather than enslaving them to their work. Through real-life examples, they illustrate how focused strategic planning can lead to significant improvements in business performance. Takeaways There's someone in your market succeeding today. Good strategy is a...2025-01-0820 min

LevershipAI In Small BusinessesIn this conversation, Matt Symes discusses the significant impact of AI on small businesses. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how to implement AI effectively, particularly through fractional implementation, and shares practical examples of how AI can enhance various business processes, including content creation, email management, and meeting preparation. The discussion highlights the necessity of prompt engineering and the potential of AI tools to optimize workflows and improve efficiency in both personal and professional contexts. Takeaways: Understanding your core processes is essential to leverage AI. AI can amplify capabilities but requires upfront work to identify needs...2024-12-1824 min

LevershipFrom Strategy to Results: The System Behind LevershipIn this episode of the Levership Podcast, hosts Chris Johnson and Matt Symes delve into the foundational principles of business strategy and the importance of practical implementation. They share personal stories of their entrepreneurial journeys, highlighting lessons learned from family legacies and experiences at Procter & Gamble. The conversation emphasizes the need for accountability, effective business models, and the significance of integrating proven methodologies into small businesses to drive growth and transformation. Takeaways Confidence is important, but business fundamentals are essential. The foundation of leadership combines leverage and leadership. Family history plays a crucial role in shaping en...2024-12-1021 min

LevershipLevership is Growing In this conversation, Matt Symes and Chris Johnston discuss the principles of effective leadership and entrepreneurship through their experiences with Levership and other organizations. They emphasize the importance of focus, clarity, and alignment within leadership teams to drive business growth and transformation. The discussion highlights the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, the significance of strategic planning, and the value of co-creating solutions with teams. They also explore the concept of managing ideas and prioritization to enhance productivity and performance in businesses, particularly for small and medium enterprises. Takeaways Leadership combines leverage and leadership for outsized returns. Focus on what generates the m...2024-12-0325 min

LevershipHow to Build a Seamless Customer JourneyIn this conversation, Matt Symes discusses the importance of understanding the customer journey and the various touchpoints that businesses have with their clients. He emphasizes the need to identify friction points and improve the overall customer experience. Through examples from different industries, he illustrates how mapping the customer journey can lead to better service delivery and customer delight. The discussion also covers proactive customer success strategies and frameworks for effectively mapping the customer journey to enhance business outcomes. Takeaways Understanding the customer journey is crucial for business success. Identifying touchpoints helps in recognizing friction in the...2024-11-2620 min

LevershipHow To Build A High-Performance Team In this conversation, Matt Symes discusses the critical importance of investing in employee development and creating effective growth plans within organizations. He emphasizes the need for small businesses to focus on their people’s growth to prevent disengagement and turnover. The discussion also covers the significance of defining organizational culture, whether as a family, sports team, or village, and how this impacts performance expectations. Additionally, the conversation highlights the importance of psychological safety and radical candor in fostering open communication and effective feedback. Finally, Matt introduces Levership programs designed to help business owners implement these strategies effectively. Takeaways Investing in peop...2024-11-1322 min

LevershipUnlock Business Growth While Staying Flexible: Here's How Summary In this conversation, Matt Symes and Kyle Racki discuss strategies for appointment-based businesses to better meet customer needs, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, capacity management, and understanding customer demand. They highlight the significance of creating a business model that allows for profitability while being responsive to customer requests. The discussion also covers the need for businesses to prioritize customer experience and retention, as well as the role of leadership in identifying and solving core business problems effectively. Takeaways Understanding customer needs is crucial for appointment-based businesses. Flexibility in scheduling can enhance customer satisfaction. A business model should be resilient a...2024-10-3119 min

LevershipThe Truth About Cashflow for Small Businesses In this episode, Matt Symes and Kyle Racki discuss the critical importance of cash flow management for small businesses, particularly those run by technician founders. Matt emphasizes the common pitfalls of neglecting cash flow, the significance of invoicing and accounts receivable, and strategies to improve cash flow. The discussion also covers the challenges of client payments and the necessity of building financial health for sustainable growth. Takeaways: Many small business owners neglect cash flow management. Understanding the cash equation is crucial for business success. Invoicing processes can significantly impact cash flow. Cash flow strategies must evolve as the business scales. A...2024-10-1619 min

LevershipWhat Working With the Right Client Fit Can Do for Your BusinessMatt Symes and Kyle Racki discuss the importance of attracting the right clients for businesses. They explore a simple exercise to assess your current client base and discuss how to evaluate if clients are paying the right amount for your services. Matt provides insight on how to qualify your potential clients in order to filter out poor fits and leverage referral networks to make mailbox money. Takeaways: It is important for businesses to attract the right clients who pay the right amount off the service. Conducting a customer analysis can help identify the top a...2024-10-0814 min

LevershipThe Strategic Map to Building a Highly-Effective TeamIn this episode, Matt Symes and Kyle Racki discuss the importance a high-performing team can make in driving a business’ success. They highlight the challenges of finding and retaining the right people and emphasize the need for a clear understanding of the skills and competencies required for each role. They also discuss the importance of strategic thinking and prioritizing the most critical issues in order to drive business growth. Takeaways: Building and managing effective teams can do wonders for business success. You need to map out the skills and competencies you need t...2024-10-0218 min

LevershipOptimizing Appointment Scheduling for Service BusinessesIn this episode of the Levership Podcast, Matt and Kyle discuss the leverage opportunity that lies in optimizing a business’ appointment scheduling. Matt highlights the need to focus on maximizing profitability per week rather than per service. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the ideal mix of services that maximizes return. Matt also explores the concept of working at the top of one’s skillset and the impact that not maximizing your minutes can have on profitability. Takeaways: Maximizing profitability per week is more important than per service in service-based businesses. Understanding the ide...2024-09-2612 min

The CAPB PodcastThe CAPB Podcast - Rory Copinger-Symes CBE & Commando SpiritIn this episode, Rory Copinger-Symes CBE owner and founder of Commando Spirit takes on a Journey from distinguished career in the Royal Marines to blending Whisky. This is a story where passion, charity and leadership combine together to create an amazing brand, and a Whisky that has credibility on its own feet. 2024-09-1334 min

LevershipOutbound is NOT Dead with Brooks Van Norman Brooks Van Normal, founder of Pipeline Formula, discusses the importance of a strong partnership between marketing and sales in generating pipeline. He emphasizes that outbound is not dead, but rather becoming more efficient with the use of tools. Brooks shares insights on effective cold email strategies, highlighting the value of offering sales assets that provide immediate value to prospects. He also suggests reverse engineering the pain points of potential customers to create relevant and insightful sales assets. Additionally, Brooks discusses the use of LinkedIn as a channel to expand touchpoints and build trust with prospects. In this conversation, Brooks and...2024-06-1045 min

LevershipVisual Storytelling with Jono Hey Jono shares his journey of creating visual explanations and sketches to distill complex concepts. He discusses some of his favorite sketches, such as the curb cut effect and the Swiss cheese model, and how they have resonated with people. Jono also offers advice for leaders on how to connect with others and explain abstract ideas, emphasizing the power of visuals and storytelling. He reflects on the process of writing his book and the challenge of selecting and organizing topics. Overall, Jono encourages individuals to pursue their personal projects and share their work with others. Keywordsvisual explanations, sketches, distilling complex concepts...2024-06-0325 min

LevershipBuyer-Centric Selling with Evan Santa, Sales Leader @ Keep Evan Santa discusses his background in building sales teams for Canadian tech companies and his current role at Keep, a fintech company. He shares his experience at Vidyard and how he challenged the sales system to sell to smaller customers and improve the buying experience. Santa emphasizes the importance of creating a strong sales system and finding hungry individuals with a drive to compete with themselves. He also discusses the need for transparency in pricing and providing enough information for buyers to qualify themselves for a product. In this conversation, Evan Santa and Kyle discuss the importance of building trust...2024-05-3147 min

LevershipHow Do You Leverage Communities? The conversation explores the power of networking and finding communities as an entrepreneur. The hosts discuss the importance of having a network outside of your immediate business team where you can vent and share experiences. They highlight the value of being able to skip small talk and have meaningful conversations with like-minded individuals. The conversation also touches on the higher prevalence of mental health issues among entrepreneurs and the need for support networks. The hosts share their own experiences with formal and informal communities and the benefits they have gained from them. Keywordsnetworking, communities, entrepreneurs, support, mental health, meaningful conversations T...2024-05-2819 min

LevershipHow Top Performers Focus By Saying NoThe Christmas tree effect refers to the tendency to keep adding more and more tasks without considering the finite amount of time available. This leads to a lack of focus and the inability to prioritize important tasks. The effect can be seen in both personal and professional life, resulting in missed deadlines, longer checklists, and decreased productivity. Strategic teams should focus on subtraction before addition, identifying what is no longer important and eliminating it. To combat the Christmas tree effect, individuals can use productivity frameworks like the Getting Things Done method or the calendar audit. Takeaways...2024-05-1518 min

LevershipLosing A Key Executive Summary In this conversation, Kyle and Matt discuss the process of restarting and resetting after losing key executives in an organization. They emphasize the importance of the people you surround yourself with and the impact they have on the success of the company. They share their personal experiences and lessons learned when dealing with the departure of key executives. They discuss the need to get curious and ask questions when someone announces their departure, as well as the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the departing individual. They also explore the steps to take in order to fill the g...2024-05-0642 min

LevershipSales Is a Process Not an Art w/ Scott Tower, Director of Sales @ Proposify Summary In this episode, Scott Tower, Director of Sales at Proposify, shares his journey in sales and provides insights into growing sales within a team. He emphasizes the importance of process-driven sales and the need for patience and perseverance. Scott also discusses the challenges of transitioning from founder-led sales and offers advice for hiring sales reps. He highlights the qualities he looks for in sales hires, including grit, openness to following process, and coachability. Additionally, Scott emphasizes the value of outbound sales and the importance of always being recruiting. Takeaways Process-driven sales is essential for success in growing sales within a...2024-04-3038 min

LevershipHow Do You Position Against The Competition? SummaryIn this conversation, Kyle and Matt discuss the importance of understanding competition in business. They highlight the different ways businesses compete, including with the status quo and competing alternatives. They emphasize the need to identify and understand competitors in order to position oneself effectively in the market. The conversation also covers methods for gathering competitive intelligence, such as monitoring customer reviews and analyzing competitors' marketing strategies. They discuss the creation of battle cards to equip sales reps with the necessary information to address competitors during sales conversations. Finally, they share a hack using Chat GPT to quickly generate battle cards. T...2024-04-2324 min

LevershipCreate Once Distribute Forever. A conversation with Ross Simmonds SummaryRoss Simmons, a top marketer, discusses the importance of personal branding and content marketing for CEOs and leaders. He emphasizes the power of leveraging media to communicate with and influence your target audience directly. Ross shares his mantra of 'create once, distribute forever' and provides insights on how to effectively distribute content on different platforms. He also discusses the importance of team formation and hiring specialized individuals to support your content marketing efforts. Keywordspersonal branding, content marketing, CEO, leadership, leverage, distribution, team formation Takeaways Personal branding and content marketing are essential for CEOs and leaders to attract great talent and...2024-04-1129 min

LevershipFrom Burning $400k/month to Profitability in Less Than Two Years In this conversation, Kyle interviews Kathy Doucette, the COO and CFO of Proposify. They discuss the role of a CFO and COO, the importance of a single source of truth in finance, and the CFO's role as a strategic partner. They also explore how finance can be integrated into operations and the challenges faced when joining a company with financial red flags. They highlight the dangers of relying solely on sales to solve financial challenges and the importance of budgeting and planning for the future. In this conversation, Kathy and Kyle discuss the financial challenges they faced in their business...2024-04-0542 min

LevershipLeveraging Other People's NetworksIn this conversation, Kyle and Matt discuss various strategies for leveraging media and networks to promote your brand and generate leads. They cover topics such as remote work, being a guest on podcasts and blogs, paying influencers, buying established channels and websites, partnering with complementary businesses, using events and speaking engagements, review websites and affiliate marketing, and managing key relationships and networks. These strategies can help businesses increase their visibility, reach new audiences, and build valuable connections. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Catch-Up 00:08 Remote Work and Digital Nomad Lifestyle 03:08 Leveraging Other People's Networks 06:09 Being a Guest on Podcasts and Blogs 08:06...2024-03-2941 min

LevershipGet Cash Efficient with The  Triple C Exercise Kyle and Matt discuss the importance of cash efficiency and capital investment. They emphasize the need for organizations to plan and allocate their cash effectively in order to reinvest in the future. They introduce the concept of the triple C exercise, which involves evaluating expenses and determining what to cut, control, and continuously improve. They also discuss the importance of evaluating advertising and marketing spend, as well as labor and headcount, to ensure efficiency. The conversation concludes with a mention of a future episode on advertising efficiency. Takeaways Plan and allocate cash effectively to reinvest in the future. Use the t...2024-03-2231 min

LevershipOur Top 3 Business MistakesIn this episode, Kyle and Matt discuss their most painful mistakes in leadership and leverage. They share their top three mistakes and provide insights on how to avoid them. They emphasize the importance of high standards in leaders and the need to focus on key objectives to achieve success. Takeaways Understanding leverage is crucial for effective leadership Having skilled financial reporting is essential for business success Strategic hiring and maintaining high standards in leaders is key Focusing on key objectives and avoiding distractions leads to better outcomes 2024-03-1519 min

LevershipSpeak a Bold and Powerful Future Into Existence. An Interview with Jeff Dudan of Homefront BrandsIn this episode of Levership, Kyle Racki talks with Jeff Dudan, a published author, Forbes contributor, host of the On the Homefront podcast, and founder of Avanta Clean and Homefront Brands, and the Dudan Group. During this conversation, we will cover topics such as Jeff Dudan’s journey, including his fusion of technology and traditional businesses, how he got started in private equity, and his lessons learned on the TV show, Undercover Boss. Takeaways The first two questions you need to ask yourself when you start a business: Who is the customer and what...2024-03-0846 min

LevershipIntroducing our new Podcast name: LevershipThe first episode of the relaunched podcast focuses on the theme of leverage and leadership. The hosts discuss the importance of anchoring the podcast around this concept and the challenges of finding a suitable name. They introduce the pyramid diagram of leverage, which includes labour, capital, code, and media as the four core leverage points. The conversation delves into each of these points, exploring how they can be leveraged to achieve business success. The hosts also touch on the importance of mindset and systems thinking in leveraging resources effectively. Takeaways Anchoring a podcast around a theme...2024-03-0235 min

LevershipTransitioning from Founder-Led Sales SummaryIn this conversation, Kyle and Matt discuss the challenges of transitioning from founder-led sales to building a sales team. They explore the importance of positioning and persuasion in sales, as well as the stigma associated with the profession. They also share insights on hiring and training salespeople, and the role of a sales leader in scaling a sales team. The conversation provides valuable advice for small and micro businesses looking to grow their sales capabilities. Takeaways Transitioning from founder-led sales to a sales team is a challenging but necessary step for business growth. Positioning and persuasion are key skills in...2024-01-1233 min

LevershipBuilding The Foundation for DemandThis insightful episode delves deep into the complexities of solving revenue problems and fostering business growth. The conversation covers essential topics like pro forma analysis, scalability, customer mix, and product mix. It further emphasizes the significance of customer service improvements, understanding lost opportunities, and the pivotal role of customer experience in driving revenue. Whether you're facing challenges in scaling your business, retaining customers, or improving conversion rates, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable strategies for business leaders and entrepreneurs. Tune in to learn how to refine your approach to revenue generation and lay a strong foundation for future...2024-01-0529 min

LevershipReframing 'New Year, New Me'Introduction to "Separation Season" Time Stamp [0:00]: Introduction to the concept of "Separation Season" - a period between mid-November and mid-January characterized by various distractions and challenges. Challenges and Planning for Q1 Campaign Launch Time Stamp [0:07]: Overview of the challenges encountered during 'Separation Season'. Time Stamp [4:38]: Strategies and insights on planning for the Q1 campaign launch. Time Stamp [5:52]: Techniques to maintain focus on work during the holiday season. Setting Goals and Fitness Challenges During Holidays Time Stamp [8:23]: The importance of goal-setting and staying productive during the holidays. Time Stamp [12:46]: Approaching fitness goals with discipline during...2023-12-0125 min

LevershipSeeing Into the Black BoxKyle and Matt dive into the intricacies of managing and unravel the challenges that come with growth – from honing in on the right priorities to overcoming constraints. The spotlight is on the pivotal role of crystal-clear communication, the art of setting expectations, and the relentless pursuit of result-driven activities. Leaders; Show your work, uphold regular check-ins, and ensure that you're consistently visible within your organization. Plus, gain insights into the profound beliefs and mindsets of successful business owners and discover the undeniable importance of nurturing key relationships and championing adaptability in the face of change.2023-11-0328 min

LevershipUnlocking High PerformanceJoin Matt Symes and Kyle Racki as they dive deep into the nuances of leadership, performance, and organizational growth. From the significance of clear direction to the dangers of micromanagement, our guests unravel what it takes to build high-performing teams. With insights into the role of technology like ChatGPT in coaching and the essence of intrinsic motivation, this episode is a treasure trove for leaders and aspiring changemakers. Discover strategies to enhance your leadership style, promote continuous learning, and create an environment where everyone thrives. 1. The Value of Direction and Execution: Need for leaders to instill...2023-10-2845 min

LevershipAI Unleashed: How Modern CEOs are Transforming BusinessKyle and Matt delve deep into the evolving world of AI integration in business. From writing emails and streamlining meetings with tools like Chat GPT and Fireflies AI to revolutionizing sales processes and HR tasks, discover how AI is not just for tech nerds. Matt shares insights on the potential pitfalls of AI reliance, the significance of verifying AI outputs, and how AI is redefining productivity across industries. Whether you're a CEO looking to enhance your company's capabilities or just curious about the future of AI in the workplace, this episode is packed with actionable insights and forward-thinking perspectives...2023-10-0636 min

LevershipThe Company Will Reflect The CEO - How Are You Showing Up?Podcast Description: In this enlightening episode of The Racki and Symes Podcast, hosts Matt Symes and Kyle Racki dissect the far-reaching influence of a CEO’s mindset and energy on an organization. From lessons learned from tech moguls to real-life examples, they break down why a CEO’s disposition directly impacts a company's culture, performance, and ethics. Tune in to gain actionable insights into personal development, leadership skills, and continuous reinvention for CEOs and entrepreneurs alike. Show Notes: Episode Highlights: Introduction Kyle Racki and Matt Symes discuss the importance of a CEO's mind...2023-09-0133 min

LevershipShould Marketing Agencies Get Paid For Performance?In this eye-opening episode of The Racki & Symes Podcast, join our seasoned hosts as they delve into the intricate world of marketing. From client expectations to the real struggles of finding a reputable marketing agency, no stone is left unturned. The conversation kicks off with an examination of clients' common demands for immediate outcomes and the nuances of measuring true marketing success. Racki and Symes discuss the importance of strategies for increasing inbound leads, retaining current clients, and the ever-changing battle to attract new ones. As they explore various agency models such as retainer versus...2023-08-2530 min

LevershipIdentifying and Overcoming Growth Bottlenecks in LeadershipIn this compelling episode of The Racki & Symes podcast, our hosts delve into a critical area for every ambitious business: identifying and fixing growth bottlenecks. Whether it's a nagging operational issue or a profound cultural challenge, we've got the insights you need to start making real progress. Leadership isn't just about giving orders; it's about empowering your teams, focusing on what truly needs improvement, and committing the necessary resources. Our hosts discuss the importance of targeting one or two key areas for enhancement rather than chasing after every problem that crops up. They also shed light on...2023-08-1834 min

LevershipAI's Promise & Peril: A Balanced ExplorationKyle and Matt are back after taking July off to enjoy the summer. In this enlightening episode of The Racki & Symes podcast, join our hosts as they dig deep into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) - a topic that resonates with businesses, governments, and individuals alike. The discussion kicks off with an intriguing look at Marc Andreessen's article on how AI could save the world, setting the stage for a comprehensive exploration of the subject. From the optimistic potential of AI in augmenting human intelligence to the haunting concerns of totalitarian regimes enabled...2023-08-1141 min

LevershipOffice Culture vs. Remote Work: The Great DebateIn this passionate and thought-provoking episode of The Racki & Symes Podcast, co-hosts Kyle Racki and Matt Symes dive headfirst into one of the most relevant and contentious discussions in today's modern work landscape: remote work vs. in-office culture. Listen as Kyle, a firm believer in the flexibility and individual productivity that remote work offers, defends the idea of a decentralized work environment. He emphasizes the potential for increased work-life balance, cost savings, and how remote work can leverage the digital age to bring together a diverse global talent pool. Meanwhile, Matt, an advocate for in-office...2023-06-2944 min

LevershipHow Positioning Informs Your Go-To-MarketIn this enlightening episode of The Racki & Symes Podcast, our dynamic duo, Kyle and Matt, dig into the intricate relationship between positioning and go-to-market strategy. They start with a comprehensive exploration of what positioning actually is, making it easily understandable for listeners of all experience levels. The hosts emphasize that positioning is not just about how a business portrays itself, but also about how the market perceives that business. They explain how positioning can directly impact and shape your business's go-to-market strategy. Kyle and Matt further delve into real-world examples, illustrating how brands, both big and small...2023-06-2329 min

LevershipMaking Time For The Non-Urgent Important ThingsIn this enlightening episode of the Racki and Symes Podcast, co-hosts Matt Racki and Kyle Symes dive deep into an effective method for time management—The Eisenhower Matrix. The duo uses their distinct, engaging approach to dissect this technique that's named after the 34th U.S. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and explain how it can dramatically improve your productivity and success in running a business. Matt and Kyle begin the episode by offering some historical context on the matrix, explaining how Eisenhower used this technique to make some of the most critical decisions during his presidency. They fu...2023-06-0835 min

LevershipWhat Makes For A Great Executive Leadership Offsite?Welcome to the Racki & Symes Podcast, where Kyle and Matt, two seasoned business leaders, dive deep into the world of executive leadership offsites. In each episode, they explore the key ingredients that make these gatherings not only effective but truly transformative. Join Kyle and Matt as they share their wealth of experience, anecdotes, and insights, helping executives, managers, and aspiring leaders understand the value and importance of offsite meetings. From planning and preparation to execution and follow-up, they leave no stone unturned in their quest to uncover what goes into creating a great executive leadership offsite. 2023-05-3146 min

LevershipHow To Think About Investing In Your BusinessIn this episode, Kyle Racki and Matt Symes, unpack a vital topic that every entrepreneur should tune into - investing in your business and letting go of small-scale thinking. Does the idea of scaling your business or investing in growth make you hesitant? Have you ever felt confined by your own mindset, unable to visualize the broader horizon of potential? This episode is tailored just for you. Don't allow your mindset to cap your business's potential. Tune in and prepare to break through these confines, one strategic investment at a time. Get ready to adopt...2023-05-2437 min

LevershipChannel Partners and Resellers: Are They The Right Acquisition Channel for Your Business?Welcome to another episode of The Racki & Symes Podcast, where Kyle and Matt dive into the world of business strategy and entrepreneurship. In this episode, the duo takes a deep dive into channel partners and resellers as an acquisition channel for businesses. Kyle and Matt discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using channel partners and resellers as a way to expand a company's reach. They explore how channel partners and resellers can help businesses enter new markets, increase brand recognition, and boost revenue. Additionally, they discuss the potential risks involved, such as losing control over the customer...2023-05-1234 min

LevershipAre You Capturing The Demand for Your Business That Already Exists?In this episode of The Racki & Symes Podcast, hosts Matt and Racki delve into the world of marketing. Racki discusses his thoughts on demand generation versus capturing existing demand, while Matt seeks advice on where to focus his marketing efforts for his coffee company and consultancy. The hosts also touch on the concept of first touch attribution and emphasize the importance of choosing the best marketing approach for one's specific audience and company needs, rather than blindly following industry trends. Tune in to gain valuable insights on effective marketing strategies.2023-04-2835 min

LevershipWhat is The Crux of Your Business?In the latest episode of their podcast, Kyle Racki and Matt Symes discuss the book "The Crux: How Leaders Excel by Finding the One Thing That Matters" by Richard P. Rumelt. The book explores the importance of identifying the central challenge facing a business or organization and developing a strategy to overcome it. Rumelt argues that many organizations fail to identify their core challenge, instead relying on vague and generic strategies that do not address the unique problems facing the company. By identifying the crux, or central challenge, leaders can develop a clear and focused strategy that...2023-04-1436 min

LevershipHow to Buy a Business Without Putting Up Your Own CashMatt Symes and Kyle Racki discuss the various options available for financing the purchase of a business. They delve into the pros and cons of using traditional bank loans, seller financing, and other alternative financing methods. Along the way, they also touch on the importance of due diligence, the role of valuations, and how to negotiate the best deal possible. Whether you're a first-time buyer or an experienced entrepreneur, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone looking to acquire a business.2023-04-0641 min

LevershipMastering the Art of SalesIn this episode of our business podcast, Kyle and Matt explore valuable sales tips and advice for founders. They start by discussing Oren Klaff's "pitch anything" strategy, which helps avoid coming across as needy or desperate when pitching your product or service. They delve into the importance of warming up leads and demonstrating authority to get permission to sell, and how doing so can significantly increase your chances of success. Finally, they emphasize the importance of demonstrating passion when you have permission to pitch and provide practical tips for doing so effectively. By following these tips, founders can significantly...2023-03-3041 min

LevershipBuilding The Muscle To Have Hard ConversationsKyle and Matt discuss the need for founders to get comfortable being uncomfortable, not putting off hard conversations, raising expectations and intensity, and being ok with not making everyone happy all the time.2023-03-2347 min

LevershipDelivering Incredible Client ExperiencesOn this episode, Matt and Kyle discuss the pitfalls when working with customers where they don't perceive the value you're delivering, and how to map out the buying journey to identify where client experiences can go off the rails. 2023-03-0942 min

LevershipBuy Back Your TimeIn the second book club episode, Kyle and Matt review Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell and share our top takeaways, including how to leverage an executive assistant, audit your time and energy, and design the perfect week.2023-03-0242 min

LevershipA Positioning Workshop for SymplicityKyle runs Matt through April Dunford's positioning workshop for his company, Symplicity Designs. We talk about competitive alternatives, unique capabilities, value to the customer, the markets he sells into, and more. If you're looking for a tactical way to evaluate your positioning, listen to this episode.2023-02-2341 min

FNR Football Nation RadioThe Lions Den | ft. Matt Symes, Jack Bozinovski, Liv Edwards & Niamh Ryan | 22 Feb 2023Join our host Josh Parish as he interviews special guests: 🌟 Goalkeeper Matthew Symes 🌟 Midfielder Jack Bozinovski 🌟 Defender Liv Edwards 🌟 U19s captain Niamh Ryan 2023-02-2244 min

LevershipThe Trend Is Your FriendKyle and Matt talk about metrics that matter in a growing organization.2023-02-1644 min

LevershipBook Club: Our review of 'The Earned Life' by Marshall GoldsmithKyle and Matt hold our first book club where we review Marshall Goldsmith's book, The Earned Life. We share our top takeaways, which include mapping our actions and intentions to our ambitions and aspirations, and how to do that effectively.2023-02-0936 min

LevershipGrowing Your Business in a New DirectionKyle and Matt discuss how to transition from one market segment, product, or delivery method to a new one when the journey will take months or years and you still need to support the old way in the meantime. 2023-02-0233 min

LevershipAlternative Ways To Fund Your CompanyIn this episode, Kyle and Matt discuss the difficulty in raising dilutive and non-dilutive working capital in the current economy and alternative ways to drive cash flow within a business.2023-01-2632 min

LevershipIs Your Business Dying of Indisgestion?In this episode, Kyle and Matt discuss the adage, 'companies die of indigestion, not starvation'. They talk through how founder/CEOs can decide which opportunities to pursue in a way that doesn't slow down their company from its core focus. 2023-01-1941 min

LevershipHow to Plan 12 Months of Content In Less Than A DayKyle and Matt talk about the nuance of niching down to increase your reach, and how Kyle used an online course during the holidays combined with ChatGPT to plan out a whole year's worth of content. This is close to an hour but well worth the full listen. Kyle and Matt are also starting a monthly book club. January's book is Marshall Goldsmiths, The Earned Life. 2023-01-0554 min

LevershipEnd Of Year Recommendations: Books, Resolutions, ReflectionsKyle and Matt discuss our favorite books we've read this year, both business and non-business, lessons contained, along with how we each think about new years resolutions, planning the next year, and reflecting on the past one. This marks year one of the podcast. Thank you to our listeners. Happy Holidays!2022-12-2235 min

LevershipHow 'In The Weeds' Should a CEO be?Kyle and Matt discuss Elon Musk's current involvement in Twitter, and compare it to more down-to-earth examples. How much should a CEO be involved inside the business vs working on the business, and they discuss some frameworks to keep CEO's at cloud level.2022-12-0933 min

LevershipIs Your Mindset Holding Back your Business?Kyle and Matt discuss the importance of focus, continuous improvement, and how doing the hard boring work will make you richer than shiny ball syndrome will.2022-11-0437 min

LevershipStrategic Inflection PointsKyle and Matt talk about the S curve in business, why growth is never linear, and how leaders should anticipate flat periods and use them as opportunities to reflect and evolve.2022-10-2636 min

LevershipDaily RoutinesKyle and Matt discuss daily routines, why there's no one right size fits all, the importance of reflection points, and why some activities are better in the morning, and others at night.2022-10-0734 min

LevershipShould You Implement A Business Framework?Kyle and Matt discuss Traction/EOS by Gino Wickman, and the upsides and traps of rolling out any business system or framework.2022-09-2834 min

LevershipWhen Things Fall ApartKyle and Matt discuss what to do when you realize your business isn't working and there are serious issues to fix. Matt relays his framework for working through these challenges which include answering; Profitability through which customer mix through which capabilities/people/technology is needed and then how to measure it through KPIs. Kyle and Matt discuss each of these components.2022-09-1640 min

LevershipAnnual Performance Reviews Aren't BullshitKyle and Matt discuss Andy Grove's approach to annual performance appraisals, why surprises may come up even with regular 1:1s, how to handle 360 feedback, and the importance of knowing an employee's long term goals as you coach them to success in their role. 2022-09-1131 min

LevershipPricing In The Current Economic EnvironmentKyle and Matt are joined by special guest, Bill Wilson, exited founder, business coach, and pricing expert, who discuss pricing strategies during an economic downturn. Should you increase pricing? Discount? For whom? How?2022-09-0339 min

LevershipManagement TrainingIn this episode, Kyle and Matt discuss the best way to train new leaders in an organization in a way that gives them experience before being promoted without losing high potential individual contributors.2022-08-0533 min

LevershipCutting Through The NoiseKyle and Matt discuss the challenges in marketing high-end professional services when you don't have a niche industry you serve.2022-07-2236 min

LevershipMarketing Is Sales At ScaleKyle and Matt discuss building a brand when you're a small business selling to enterprises, and whether it even matters. Along the way, they discuss customer discovery to map the buying journey.2022-07-1736 min

LevershipStructuring Your OrganizationKyle and Matt discuss why your org structure is almost as important as the people you hire, why flat works... up until a point, hybrid organizations, dual reporting, cross-functional teams.2022-07-0139 min

LevershipBuy-InKyle and Matt discuss how to make high-quality decisions in a way that achieves buy-in from all stakeholders involved in executing them. 2022-06-1742 min

LevershipCore Values: Do They Drive Your Decisions?Kyle and Matt discuss their company and personal core values and how they use them to drive day-to-date decisions within their businesses.2022-06-1041 min

LevershipBattening Down The HatchesKyle and Matt discuss how to prepare for an economic downturn by doing what managers should be often doing anyways; focusing on the core business and cutting waste and distractions. 2022-06-0440 min

LevershipWho Inspires You?Kyle and Matt discuss those who inspire them to achieve their goals and live a life of intention and purpose, buying back time, and executing today. 2022-05-2741 min

LevershipExecuting Through ExecutivesKyle and Matt discuss how to effectively lead an organization through the executive leadership team, and common pitfalls and challenges in doing so.2022-05-2033 min

LevershipGlass CeilingsIn this episode, Kyle and Matt discuss limiting beliefs and mindsets that hold founders back from their goals, and different frameworks and mental models to push past them. 2022-05-1340 min

LevershipHow should CEOs spend their time?Kyle and Matt discuss how founders leverage their time on the highest impact activities, designing your perfect week, and mapping them to your longer-term goals.2022-04-2934 min

LevershipHiring During The Great ReflectionKyle and Matt discuss reshaping culture in real-time by adding new hires as existing employees leave, getting clear on the vision, values, and culture to attract the people you want, hiring slow/fire fast in a competitive market, and the six qualities Matt looks for when assessing candidates.2022-04-2242 min

LevershipPricing Tactics and StrategiesKyle and Matt discuss why monetization is underutilized to grow a business, and ways to uncover the optimal price.2022-04-1540 min

LevershipThe RollercoasterKyle and Matt discuss celebrating wins, aging successfully, and the importance of understanding psychology.2022-04-0841 min

LevershipAccountability and PerformanceKyle and Matt talk about measuring success in a business, builders vs sailors, and creating the systems and environment that allow good people to be great performers.2022-04-0143 min

LevershipFinding Product-Market FitKyle and Matt discuss the importance of doing things that don't scale; the Kano model to understand which features will drive customer satisfaction; observing customers in the wild, and asking questions that elicit emotional answers.2022-03-2533 min

LevershipThe Great ReflectionKyle and Matt discuss why the great resignation should be framed as "The Great Reflection", why employees are leaving their companies more than ever before, how to normalize it, and how to play offence and defensive to increase the talent density in your organization.2022-03-1828 min

LevershipLeading YourselfKyle and Matt discuss how leaders need to start with themselves, using the "ikigai" framework to live a life of intention, why work-life balance doesn't exist, and how to inspire those around you by being the lighthouse—not the tug boat.2022-03-1042 min

LevershipAmping It UpKyle and Matt discuss Frank Slootman's new book, Amp It up; the importance of creating focus in an organization before you increase the intensity, levelling up your mindset and habits as a leader, and the five dysfunctions of a team.2022-03-0337 min

LevershipFiguring Out Your Perfect CustomerWhy firmographics and demographics aren't enough to figure out your Ideal Customer Profile, and the Jobs-To-Be-Done framework.2022-02-2435 min

LevershipGoing Through The BadlandsWhy you don't want to buy a business at $1M in revenue, filling the tank before you go through the badlands, outworking problems and April Dunford's positioning framework.2022-02-2432 min

LevershipThe Hard Thing About Hard ThingsKyle and Matt discuss layoffs and restructures, evaluating your team, and radical candour. 2022-02-2432 min

Unelectable AirwavesKitesurfing to Oblivion w/ Owen SymesMatt (@djtomhanks) and Tony (@Tony_Westside) sit down with Owen Symes (@Owen_Symes) to discuss his book about the Obama years, Our Man In Washington. We go over some of the highs and lows on both the foreign policy and domestic agenda, as well as the lessons the left should take away from these critical 8 years. Was it all a cynical deployment of 'hope & change' rhetoric for weary Americans, or did Barry run up against very real material constraints on implementing a progressive program in the US? There's also some insights about salvaging the country before climate change fur...2021-10-252h 00

The Real Bottom LineEpisode 20: The Real Bottom Line with Matt SymesOver the past decade, Matt Symes has worked with over 400 organizations to help them understand the principles, methods, and tools of high performing organizations. From helping a manufacturing company scale from 20m to over 150m a year, a construction company from 42m to 200m/annualized and countless other organizations from 1m - 10m, Matt has had a front row seat on the trials and tribulations of organizations going through scale. Symplicity Designs is a B Corp that measures and supports a triple bottom line - People, Planet, and Profit. Over the last decade they have giv...2021-08-2756 min

BalancingUsThe Role Of Women In Creating A Sustainable Future For The Human Family With Jon And Sand SymesWhether or not we agree, our future will depend on the way we build connections and on something that we’re passionate about. At the moment, our society is male-oriented and we live inside patriarchy. The world is overheating from too much male energy. In today’s episode, Jon and Sand Symes speak with Matt Kelly about the role women have in creating a sustainable future for the human family here on earth. They stress the need for women to come into their fullness of expression and wisdom so that we may find a balanced way of meeting the challeng...2020-12-1452 min

Spectology: The Science Fiction Book Club Podcast23.2: The Ghost Network post-read w/ Ben Roswell: Celebrity, Internet Culture, Architecture, and Secret UtopiasWe've finally done it! Sorry for the late episode, a few real life considerations got in the way of editing. We're joined again by Ben Roswell (@roswellwrites on twitter & roswellian.itch.io) to discuss Catie Disabato's postmodern novel of celebrity & architectural cults, The Ghost Network (https://amzn.to/2VtAhVc). We all had a lot of thoughts on this book, and for any given one two of us agreed and a third didn't, in various combinations, like a big fun podcast triangle! It was a lovely conversation, about a great book to discuss with others. Stuff we...2020-02-271h 50

The Boiling PointReal Talk about Entrepreneurship and Business Growth with Matt SymesAre you constantly feeling like everything you see online makes it seem like everyone else is doing better, succeeding faster and are just overall better at business and entrepreneurship than you? Have you been chasing that overnight success? Our guest today, Matt Symes has a frank and direct attitude towards helping people understand where the issues in their business are. He calls out some of the perfect success stories that are highlighted and talks about the struggles real companies face as they grow. If you are an entrepreneur, this is a must-listen episode! Put your headphones in...2019-10-3137 min

Boiling Point PodcastReal Talk about Entrepreneurship and Business Growth with Matt SymesAre you constantly feeling like everything you see online makes it seem like everyone else is doing better, succeeding faster and are just overall better at business and entrepreneurship than you? Have you been chasing that overnight success? Our guest today, Matt Symes has a frank and direct attitude towards helping people understand where the issues in their business are. He calls out some of the perfect success stories that are highlighted and talks about the struggles real companies face as they grow. If you are an entrepreneur, this is a must-listen episode! Put your headphones in...2019-10-3137 min

Inside Yorkshire#044 Woodcraft Warriors Dealing with PTSDIn this episode Susan follows on from last week by talking to Ted Grainger, the third founding member of the Veteran's Woodcraft group supporting people affected by their military service. Also interviewed today are two further members of the group, Andy and Matt. .. all three talk openly about their mental health struggles with PTSD since leaving service. The veterans also help in the community by providing outreach support to mental health groups in the area, teaching woodcraft skills and giving theraputic support to those in need. They are taking part in a bid for lottery funding through t...2019-04-1439 min